Message of 8-2-2023

Published: Wed, 08/02/23

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Wednesday: August 2, 2023

Message of the Day

The spiritual task of life is to feed hope. Hope is not something to be found outside of us. It lies in the spiritual life we cultivate within. The whole purpose of wrestling with life is to be transformed into the self we are meant to become, to step out of the confines of our false securities and allow our creating God to go on creating. In us.

Joan D. Chittister

(What gives you hope? How does hope motivate you to grow?)

Readings of the Day

Ex 34:29-35; Ps 99:5, 6, 7, 9

Mt 13:44-46

Jesus said to his disciples:
"The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it."

USCCB lectionary

Reflection on the Scripture

“The Israelites would see that the skin of Moses’ face was radiant.” —Exodus 34:35

Everyone could see the Lord radiate through Moses, though Moses did not know he was glowing (Ex 34:29-35). Everybody could see that Moses was valuable to God and to humanity. But an empty field with buried treasure (see Mt 13:44), as Jesus describes in today’s gospel passage, does not readily appear to be valuable, nor does it radiate beauty, value, and importance. A person who sells all to buy an empty field of apparent low value looks not radiant, but foolish.

Jesus does tell us to let our light shine before men (Mt 5:16), but in a humble way. Our job is to listen daily to the Lord in prayer (Lk 10:39). . .

Humble yourself before the Lord, that He may exalt you and shine through you. Radiate His presence so others might give God glory (Mt 5:16). “Look to Him that you may be radiant with joy” (Ps 34:6).

Prayer: Father, Your Word says that in Your light I “shall be radiant at what” I see (Is 60:5). Shine through me so that when others look at me, they see only You.

Promise: “Extol the Lord, our God, and worship at His footstool; holy is He!” —Ps 99:5

Presentation Ministries

Amazon Gift Cards: Good for any occasion.

Spiritual Reading

-Readings from Jesus Alive in Our Lives, by Philip St. Romain. Ave Maria Press, 1985. Contemplative Ministries, Inc. 2011.

Part Two, Encountering the Risen Christ

Chapter 2: The Personal, Historical Christ

- Selected quotes

How do you relate to other humans? Relate to Jesus the same way and see what happens. Of course, sometimes it helps to have a method or process to relate. That’s true in our human relationships, especially marriage. Many couples find it helpful to learn better ways to communicate, or to journal their thoughts and feelings before sharing them with each other. Sometimes we’ve learned unhealthy ways of relating with others, and this can impair our relationship with Jesus as well.

There’s an ancient method of prayer called “Lectio Divina” (sacred reading) that provides for many a helpful approach to communicating with Jesus. I publish several of these methods in my Daily Spiritual Seed eNewsletter from time to time. These are just guidelines for prayer; feel free to develop your own method or to modify the ones below to suit your needs. The important thing, here, is to spend time with Jesus, to open yourself to be known by him, and to learn of him and his ways in the time you spend with him.

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